2/6/2013-Check Your Weapons

Bob Englehart

Oh man, if the insurance companies get in on the act, that'll be the end of the gun culture in America as we know it which, of course, is what we rational, unarmed citizens want.

The insurance companies are worse than the feds. Every insurance policy is a gamble and the insurers like to make sure the deck is stacked in their favor. And remember this. The first rule of insurance is: If you can buy insurance against it, whatever "it" is, won't happen to you.

Gun insurance won't be cheap. The cost of an insurance policy on one gun will probably be about what it costs on one car. Some experts predict deaths by guns will surpass deaths by automobiles by 2015, so the rates could be similar.

The insurance company is going to want to come to your house and nose around. They'll want to know where you're keeping your gun, how many members in the family, who has a history of mental illness, if any family member been in jail on a gun charge. They'll have plenty of questions; you can bet on it.

They'll require you to have a gun safe and take gun safety classes. They'll want to see your paperwork and if you have one violation, your rates may double. There may be age limits, for potential policy holders both too young and too old. Gun owners may have to pass a psychological test and be cleared by a shrink.

You know what? I think if we let the insurance companies take over the gun culture, we won't need to repeal the Second Amendment.